Two Die in Plane Crash at Airport

By Teresa Rochester

Nov. 13 -- Two people were killed after the small airplane they were in crashed and burst into flames shortly after takeoff from the Santa Monica Airport Tuesday evening, authorities said.

The Cessna 340-A 1978 Cabin Class Twin Engine took off from the airport at around 6:30 p.m. Moments later the pilot aborted takeoff. The plane skidded down the runway on the western side of the airport, slide down an embankment and slammed into a guardrail.

The male pilot and his female passenger died at the scene. Their identities have not been released.

"We don't know why the pilot aborted takeoff," said Fire Department spokeswoman Jill Barnes, who saw flames and black smoke coming from the burning plane as she drove up 23rd Street on her way to the crash site.

By the time Barnes reached the scene at around 7 p.m. firefighters had contained the fire.

FAA representatives arrived at the airport at 9:30 p.m. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will take the lead on investigating the incident, Barnes said.

No one in the heavily residential neighborhoods adjacent to the airport was injured.